Refrigerator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J, MGMURTRY.

REFRIGERATOR. v

No. 252,613. Patented Jan; 24,1882.

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N. PETERS, PIIoIO-Ulhcgmplwr. Washington. 0. c

2 Sheets-Sheet 2v (No Model.)

J. MoMURTRY,

REFRIGERATOR.

Nofzszms.

Patented Jan. 24,1882.

UNETED STATES PATENT @rrrcao JOHN MOM URTRY, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,613, dated January 24, 1882.

Application filed O.tober28,188l. (No model.)

To all whom at may concern Be it known that I, JOI-IN MGMURTRY, of Lexington, in the county of Fa ette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains to make and use'it, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings,whieh form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in refrigerators; and it consists,first, in the meth- 0d of creating a vacuum by placinga quantity of glycerine, quicksilver, or any other dense liquid in a revolving wheel which is provided with suitable valves, whereby as the liquid is made to flow past the mouth of the pipe the air will be drawn from the chamber into the wheel, and then forced through one of the valves of the wheel by the movement of the liquid; second, ina swinging weighted lover, a toothed quadrant, and a pinion, which is attached to the wheel containing the dense liquid, whereby as the weighted lever is made to swing back and forth like a pendulum the wheel will be operated so as to create a vacuum; third,in thelocation of the ice and drinking-water at the top of the refrigerator and out of the way of the operating-shelves.

The object of my invention is to produce a refrigerator in which not only the ice, but the articles to be preserved, are keptin a constant vacuum, thereby decreasing the melting of the ice and increasing its refrigerating qualities.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, the vacuum-wheel being shown in vertical section and the mechanism to operate it being removed. Fig. 3 is a similar viewot' the machine, with the operating mechanism attached to the wheel.

A represents a suitable ease or frame, which may be made of any desired shape, size, or form that may be preferred. This case or frame will be made of any desired thickness and of any suitable material having sufficient strength to with stand the external pressure of the atmosphere, and having suflicient density to prevent the passage of air through it. Galvanized iron will most probably be used, as being most sutable for the purpose; but any other material desired may be substituted therefor. In this case or frame A is formed the vacuum-chamber B, which extends the full length of the frame, so as to surround the chamber 0 upon all sides, and which chamber B may be connected by means of a pipe with the vacuum-chamber (l, or the two may be made entirely separate and distinct. If the two chambers O and B are connected together and a vacuum is formed in one chamber, it will be formed in the other at the same time.

The top D of the chamber 0 is made vertically movable, and this top may either bemade solid and of some non-conducting material, or it may be made hollow and a vacuum formed therein; or it may be used as an ice-chamber, in which case the vacuum will be formed around the ice for the purpose of preventing it from melting too rapidly. Secured to the inside of this cover D, by means of vertical rods F, are a number of shelves, E, which are to be placed any suitable distance apart, and upon which the articles to be preserved are placed. This cover has its edge beveled, as shown, so that when it is lowered in place a perfectly-tight joint will be formed. The joint between the cover and the case may be covered up by india-rubber or any other suitable elastic material which will prevent the admission of air.

In the top of the chamber 0, but-to the sides thereof, will be formed suitable ice-chambers or ice-shelves, E, upon which the ice is placed. The ice being placed to one side, as is here shown, is entirelyout of the way of the shelves as they are raised and lowered, at the same time that it is placed in such a position that its refrigerating effects are exerted to the best advantage upon the perishable articles which are placed upon the shelves E. As the vacuum is kept in thechamberO all the time, but very little of the ice will be melted, and as the chamber 0 is kept constantly filled with cold air, when the shelves E are raised upward little or no warm air candescend into the chamber. Running from the bottom of the charm ber U is the stop-cock Y, which serves not only to draw oft all of the water which may run down the sides, of the chamber from the ice, but serves also to allow air to flow into the chamber and destroy the vacuum which has been formed, when it is desired to raise the shelves upward. After the shelves have been lowered into place and a vacuum is about to be formed in the chamber 0 this stop-cock Y must be closed.

Underneath the ice chamber or shelf is formed a water-reservoir, \V, in which drinking-water is kept, and which reservoir is provided with a cock, X, for drawing the water off. This reservoir is tilled through the tube or funnel Z, which is provided with a suitable cover that is placed upon the top of the frame A.

Extending above the top of the frame is a J suitable standard, M, upon one side, and a suitable frame-work, U, formed of pipes, upon the other. Upon the tops of these standards is journaled the shaft P, which is provided with a large pulley or tly-wheel, O, at one end, and around which pulley or wheel is passed an endless rope, by means of which the shaft may be readily turned in either direction. Secured to the center of this shaft P are the two pulleys I K, of different sizes, around which is passed the rope H, by means of which the cover D and the shelves secured to it are raised and lowered. This rope passes around the pulley G, which is secured to the top of the cover, and up over and around the two pulleys I K, and then outward over the two guiding pulleys J, where it has a large weight, L, secured to it. These pulleys are preferably arranged so as to work difi'erentially, so as to require as little exertion as possible in moving the top and the loaded shelves.

Forming a part of the hollow frame U is the pipe T, to the outer end of which is secured the hollow wheel R, which is partially filled with quicksilver, glycerine, or any other dense liquid. In this wheel, in the opposite side from which it is connected to the pipe, are the two valves V, which communicate with the outer atmosphere, but which move in one direction only. hen this wheel is caused to revolve, either by means of a handle, S, or a mechanism which is specially constructed for the purpose, the quicksilver or other liquid flows past the lower end of the pipe T into the opposite side of the wheel R, and as it flows past the lower end of the pipe T the air which is in the opposite side of the wheel 1% is forced out through the valve, leaving a vacuum in the wheel, which serves to draw the air from the chamber B C. By alternately turning the wheel from side to side the quicksilver or other liquid serves as a piston for first drawing the air up from the chambers and then forcing it out through the valves V.

The upper end of the pipe T may be connected with the pipes N, one of which will be connected with the chamber B, and the other one with the chamber 0, or both pipes may be connected to the same chamber, in which case the two chambers will be connected together. Where this wheel is to be operated by hand a stout rope, wire, or chain will extend down from the end of the shaft P and be fastened to the handle S, so as to prevent it from being moved beyond a certain point. In order to operate this wheel R as easily as possible, a pinion,l,is secured to its outer side,and meshing with this pinion 1 is the toothed segment 2, which is suspended from the shaft P. Secured to this segment, and extending downward to near the floor, is a rod or lever, 3,which has a suitable weight, 4, secured to its lower end. When this lever is moved back and forth, like a pendulum, the segment is made to operate the pinion 1, and this pinion 1 will, in turn, cause the wheel to revolve, and thus cause the liquid to form a vacuum in the two chambers. This weighted lever may be made to'operate simply by a pull which is given to it by hand, or it may be operated by a machine which is intended especially for that purpose, and which will operate continuously or intermittently, or operate until a certain vacuum is formed, and when the vacuum is destroyed beyond a certain extent the machine will again start in movement, so as to re-form the vacuum, and thus keep the vacuum at about the same point all the time.

I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction or arrangements of parts, as these may be varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a refrigerator, the chamber 0, having the ice-chamber E, formed as an enlargement of its top, so that the ice can be placed out of the way of the vertically-moving shelves E, substantially as set forth.

2. In a refrigerator, the chamber 0, having both the ice-chamber E and the water-chamber W formed around its top, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the wheel It, containing a dense liquid, and provided with suitable valves, with a weighted lever, 3, quadrant 2, pinion 1, and the pipe which connects with the refrigerating -chamber, substantially as shown.

4. The wheel B, attached to the end of a pipe which is connected with one or both of the chambers B G, and provided with suitable valves, so that when rocked or moved from side to side the dense liquid contained in the wheel will exhaust the air from the chamber or chambers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MOMURTRY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE S'roLL, (J. H. STOLL. 

